Hexham town twinning 30-year anniversary with Noyon, France celebrated

The visit from Hexham's French twin town took place from Friday, May 26 to Monday, May 29. The trip marked thirty years of the connection with Noyon, a town in Picardy, north-east France, and was blessed with superb weather.

Guests arrived by coach on Friday evening and were met by their Hexham hosts. On Saturday they visited Beamish Museum, which allowed the French visitors an insight into the past way of life in the northeast.

On the return journey, there was also a brief stop at the Angel of the North statue.

French guests' arrival in Hexham (Image: Supplied)

On Sunday, hosts showed their guests around Hexham and its surroundings until a ceilidh was given by Hexham Village Band at 4.30pm.

The musicians performed in the bandstand in the Abbey Gardens and the event was open to the general public, a way of celebrating this special visit with everyone in Hexham.

Hexham Mayor, Derek Kennedy, hosted a reception in the Great Hall of the Abbey.

The Mayor's reception in the Abbey (Image: Supplied)

Chair of Hexham Town Twinning Association, Marianne Corder, gave a welcome speech in French, with two speeches from the Noyon side.

Jacques de Franssu, President of Noyon's town twinning committee, pointed out that Hexham and Noyon were connected in the Roman world by important roads and that those who built Hadrian's Wall might have come from Noyon.

He also paid tribute to John Lynch and Bertrand Labarre who set up the Hexham-Noyon connection in 1993.

The gifting of the presents including a bow-tie (Image: Supplied)

The Mayor of Noyon was unable to attend so her speech was read by Jacques de Franssu. Sandrine Dauchelle wrote about friendship, common values and peace.

Her speech said: "Every year, for around thirty years now, 40 to 50 people, of all generations, have had the chance to meet, discover a friendly city, and forge lasting ties."

Mayor Dauchelle was envious of the fact that Hexham was awarded the title of the UK's 'happiest place' and said she would be working hard to match this in Noyon in future.

Mayor Kennedy gave a speech in French in which he praised the whole trip for the happiness it had generated. He had taken great pleasure in introducing his guests to local heritage sites, black pudding and haggis.

There was an exchange of presents, including a Northumberland tartan bow-tie for the President of Noyon's town twinning. The evening concluded with a dinner in the Beaumont Hotel and the hour of departure was set for Monday morning.

With the chair of Hexham Town Twinning waving the French flag, and a crowd of hosts waving goodbye, the guests from Noyon settled down in their large coach for the journey home.